A fascinating revelation about Apple's future iPhone refreshes initially went under the radar last week. But now that the news has had time to circulate, it's becoming a big story.

San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón - a man on a mission to cut down on cell phone related robberies in his neck of the woods - admits being disappointed to learn that Apple won't be able to initiate a so-called "kill switch" any time soon.

The kill switch, which can be remotely activated by a consumer if a cell phone is lost or stolen, won't find a home on the next two iPhone refreshes because those models have already been designed - under Steve Jobs. That admission comes directly from Apple’s government liaison Michael Foulkes.

Gascón said Foulkes discussed the long and laborious process of researching and producing a kill-switch technology for devices, and also said the next two generations of iPhones have already been developed. “They preceded Tim Cook,” the district attorney said he was told of the future iPhones.

For now, Gascón says he will continue working to persuade the telecommunications industry to implement technology capable of disabling cellphones and tablets after they are reported stolen.

iPhone were involved in half of all of San Francisco's robberies last year.

Hum! let me think about this. Phone is stolen, user will be able to log in and not just wipe the data but FRY IT?! Well, that would certainly work and be much more effective than those carrier platforms that only block the ESNs/IMEI/Serial Numbers from the network since not all carriers, um, China cough, cough, have these network blocking platforms in place. Yep, this would actually work over time to reduce street crime, scamers, gamers, frauders that rob people and flip a quick sale on Craig's list or a pawn shop...

Does that means that my iPhone 5 and future "iPhone 5S" were under Steve Jobs design? No wonder they are elegant.

#Cool design

Yes it was this was reported long ago around the time of the iPhone 4S release.

Also if this is true I could see how they would release them if the designs are completely different.

So basically this year would just be the iphone 5S then next year would be Jobs future idesign#1 year later Jobs future idesign#1S...Then year later Jobs future idesign#2 and a year after that Jobs future idesign#2S.

How do that many people get their phones lost/stolen? I have a number of forgetful/overly trusting family members and none of them have ever lost theirs or had it stolen.

Over half of the street robberies are smartphones in San Francisco - I suspect this rate is similar nationwide. In 2012, there were at least three murders associated with smartphone robberies in the US. I believe eliminating the value of a stolen smartphone would significantly reduce theft and violence associated with smartphones and I would like to see this sooner rather than later.

I'm worried about the iPhone after the last two under Steve's watch are out. Though I know Ives and Jobs both have/had great taste for design, so hopefully Ives will continue to create elegant iPhones.

Where do you get that "mass opinion" is wanting a phone that's too big to use without two hands? Give me factual statistics that the mass majority of the world wants a phone so big it should be called a tablet. Jobs was a great inventor and the idea of being a great inventor is that you understand what your customers need better than they do and that you don't chase every little feature that some idiot on a forum wines he wishes the phone had. If you want a giant useless phone go get a note and get off of the apple forums.

A fascinating revelation about Apple's future iPhone refreshes initially went under the radar last week. But now that the news has had time to circulate, it's becoming a big story.

San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón - a man on a mission to cut down on cell phone related robberies in his neck of the woods - admits being disappointed to learn that Apple won't be able to initiate a so-called "kill switch" any time soon.

The kill switch, which can be remotely activated by a consumer if a cell phone is lost or stolen, won't find a home on the next two iPhone refreshes because those models have already been designed - under Steve Jobs. That admission comes directly from Apple’s government liaison Michael Foulkes.

For now, Gascón says he will continue working to persuade the telecommunications industry to implement technology capable of disabling cellphones and tablets after they are reported stolen.

iPhone were involved in half of all of San Francisco's robberies last year.

So Apple still wants to market on Steve Jobs name. First they made sure that everyone bought 4S with the sympathy. Then they announced that Jobs actually did not work on 4S. Later while 5 was released no mention of it. Now they want to 'cash in' next 2 models. Ha ha. I guess they foresee the losing market and want to hold the grip.

Where do you get that "mass opinion" is wanting a phone that's too big to use without two hands? Give me factual statistics that the mass majority of the world wants a phone so big it should be called a tablet. Jobs was a great inventor and the idea of being a great inventor is that you understand what your customers need better than they do and that you don't chase every little feature that some idiot on a forum wines he wishes the phone had. If you want a giant useless phone go get a note and get off of the apple forums.

Although m an apple fan boy through and through, this is just sick! They want people to believe that even the next two generations of iphones were designed before jobs bode farewell to the world simply because they want to appeal to the emotions of that group of people who thought that Apple was apple only till the time it was under jobs. Without him, the company wud fall apart.
Great marketing but inhuman tactics to appeal to the consumer.

If jobs iphone till the 5s or whatever generation had been already designed, then the screen size refresh
wouldve taken place in the 4s.
Jobs wudnt have tried to release an inferior device just so that they could launch a better one next year and accumulate even more profit.
So stop making a fool out of the world. Jobs is gone. Now the best that u can do is work with as much passion and conviction as he had. Let his work inspire you. Dont use his hard work to fill your pockets.

If jobs iphone till the 5s or whatever generation had been already designed, then the screen size refresh
wouldve taken place in the 4s.
Jobs wudnt have tried to release an inferior device just so that they could launch a better one next year and accumulate even more profit.

You really think companies release the best possible version of their product they could design each year?

Hum! let me think about this. Phone is stolen, user will be able to log in and not just wipe the data but FRY IT?! Well, that would certainly work and be much more effective than those carrier platforms that only block the ESNs/IMEI/Serial Numbers from the network since not all carriers, um, China cough, cough, have these network blocking platforms in place. Yep, this would actually work over time to reduce street crime, scamers, gamers, frauders that rob people and flip a quick sale on Craig's list or a pawn shop...

then comes along some low life hacker who figured out how he can kill switch millions of phones with just one finger--now millions of people have phones that can never be used again. I prefer just calling the carrier and having it blocked that way., or unblocked if its recovered.

then comes along some low life hacker who figured out how he can kill switch millions of phones with just one finger--now millions of people have phones that can never be used again. I prefer just calling the carrier and having it blocked that way., or unblocked if its recovered.

Yea it's very easy to just call the carrier and block the IMEI number from ever being used again.